Right position in college key for Key

1of 4Da"Shawn Key (Brennan) breaks loose for the West in the first half during the San Antonio All Star Game at the Alamodome on December 3, 2015.Photo: Tom Reel / San Antonio Express-News

2of 4West quarterback Da’Shawn Key (Brennan) sprints away from East defender Bryan London (Randolph) during the San Antonio All-Star Football Game at the Alamodome on Dec. 3, 2015.Photo: Tom Reel /San Antonio Express-News

4of 4Bear quarterback Da'Shawn Key grinds into the Knight defense in the second half as Steele plays Brennan at the Alamodome in second round 6A high school Division I I playoff action on November 22, 2014.Photo: TOM REEL

Da’Shawn Key’s first touchdown pass at Brennan was supposed to be thrown into the turf.

He was a freshman on the varsity because of the new school’s lack of depth. Suddenly, he was at quarterback when the starter suffered an injury right before halftime against Sam Houston. Key received the play call to spike the ball.

“I didn’t know what it was,” Key said of the play call. “We snapped it, and I threw it to Brandon Sanchez, and he caught it in the end zone.”

That was just the beginning for Key. He started every game in Brennan’s short school history and went 39-4 as a starter, with all four losses coming in the playoffs.

As national signing day approaches Feb. 4, Key is one of many athletes who might be playing a different position in college. He orally committed to Incarnate Word and could play wide receiver with a chance of playing quarterback still a possibility.

Players such as Key are athletic enough to have options to play different positions in college.

A prospect skilled on offense might choose to attend a bigger school and switch to defense, or he can attend a smaller school with a chance to still have the ball in his hands.

“At the end of the day, they have to put the offer out there, and then you have to make those choices, and hopefully you chose wisely,” Brennan coach Stephen Basore said.

Texas Tech assistant Mike Jinks, the former Steele coach, recently showed interest in the 6-foot-1 senior as a potential defensive back for the Red Raiders.

Brennan’s coaches know Key can play just about anywhere on the field because of his athleticism. Brennan assistant P.J. Wells said one of the team’s bread-and-butter running plays is designed for Key to block someone, a task the quarterback did not shy away from.

“He’s a physical player,” Wells said. “He just loves the game, all aspects of it. He was begging to be a punt returner and kickoff returner, and we just couldn’t chance that.”

But there were many different factors that led to Key tentatively staying in San Antonio for his college career. He originally wanted to play quarterback in college, but Key said he started leaning toward being an athlete.

“I just want to play and be on the offensive side of the ball,” Key said. “I just want to be able to be in a position where I can make plays with the ball. I like quarterback and receiver, but really, I just want to play.”

Shortly after Key said that, his coach made sure it was clear that his quarterback can do anything he wants to do. He added that with a laugh, a statement that comes with years of watching him do just about everything for the Bears as a three-year starter.

“He can be physical,” Basore said. “He can be fast. He can be elusive. He can be what he needs to be, and through his competitive drive, which is one of his biggest attributes, he’s not going to fail.”

Ben Baby has covered high school sports for the Express-News since September 2014. The native of Grapevine, Texas, attended the University of North Texas and is a proud alumnus of the Denton Record-Chronicle.